Jason Clarke to play Lincoln's father in The Green Blade Rises

Hollywood heavyweights Brad Pitt and Sean Penn star in this 2011 drama which depicts life through the eyes of an 11-year-old boy during the 1950s. Jack (Penn) is one of three brothers in a family where the mother and father each contend for allegiance. As a child, he sees the world as his mother does- through the eyes of his soul. To Jack, his mother represents the way of love and mercy, whereas their father tries to teach them the world’s way of putting oneself first. His view of the world is abruptly changed, however, when he first witnesses sickness, suffering and death.

The 'Lawless' actor - who plays the onscreen brother of Tom Hardy and Shia LaBeouf in the gangster movie - is in negotiations to take the male lead role of Tom Lincoln, the father of former US President Abraham Lincoln, in the Terrence Malick-produced movie.

'The Green Blade Rises' tells the story of Abraham's formative years as the 16th US president and how the abandonment by his verbally and physically abusive father changes his life forever.

A.J. Edwards will make his directorial debut in the movie - which he is also writing - after working with Terrence on 'The New World' and 'The Tree of Life'.

Jason is currently in John Hillcoat's 'Lawless' and he is set for another big role when he stars in drama movie 'Zero Dark Thirty' - which tells the story of the hunt for former terrorist leader Osama bin Laden and also stars Joel Edgerton and Jessica Chastain - and he is currently in production on action film 'White House Down'.